Cap for forming a modular system

ABSTRACT

A cap for a spout of a thin-walled flexible package which has a flattened head having a viewing region, at least one left tooth and at least two right teeth is provided. The at least one left tooth is suitable for being inserted with interference into a right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure particularly appealing to children.

This invention is in the field of caps for packaging intended to contain a product, usually a liquid or paste product. In particular, this invention is in the field of caps for thin-walled flexible packaging fitted with a spout (generally referred to as spouted pouches), typically intended for containing products for children such as juices and fruit purees, yoghurt and beverages. Even more particularly, the cap according to this invention is usable, in combination with other similar caps, as a toy, so as to attract the attention of children.

In the sector mentioned above, which has undergone considerable development due to the appreciation of users, some of the efforts of manufacturers are focused on the creation of caps that may be used as a toy, so as to attract the interest of the child. For example, in this context, the Applicant holds the International Application WO-A1-2014/083478, relating to a cap provided with a spherical play device, the International Application WO-A1-2019/064095 relating to a cap in the form of a spinning top, and the European Patent EP-B1-2489605, relating to a cap for the construction of a modular system.

It is an object of this invention to make a further cap suitable for forming a modular system that provides for the coupling of a plurality of said caps.

This object is achieved by a cap according to claim 1. The dependent claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The features and advantages of the cap according to this invention will be apparent from the description below, given by way of non-limiting example according to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a closure according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c show the closure of FIG. 1 in a first, second, and third configuration, respectively;

FIG. 3 depicts a closure according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a closure according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlargement of the box V in FIG. 4 , showing a striker of the cap;

FIG. 6 depicts a modular structure made up of a plurality of caps according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlargements of boxes VII and VIII of FIG. 6 , which show a horizontal joint between the caps;

FIG. 9 depicts a modular structure comprising a plurality of caps according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlargement of the box X in FIG. 9 , showing a vertical joint;

FIG. 11 is an enlargement of the box XI in FIG. 9 , showing a horizontal joint;

FIG. 12 depicts a further modular structure according to one embodiment of this invention.

With reference to the figures in the appended drawings, a closure according to an embodiment of this invention is collectively indicated by 1.

The closure 1 comprises a cap 2 that may be screwed onto a spout.

The cap 2 comprises a ring-shaped cap wall 4 having a central cap axis X, which extends from an upper end 6, closed by a cap base 8, to an open lower end 10, for insertion onto the spout, comprising a circumferential rim.

Preferably, the cap 4 comprises a cap flange 12, projecting radially outwards from the cap wall 4, at the lower end 10.

Preferably, the closure 1 further comprises a tamper-evident seal 14 suitable for indicating the first opening of the closure.

The tamper-evident seal 14 comprises a tamper-evident ring 16 located below the lower end 10 of the cap 2, coaxial thereto, and a plurality of breakable jumpers 18 joining the cap 2 to the tamper-evident ring 16, suitable for breaking by unscrewing the cap from the spout.

The flange 12 of the cap 2 has a lower face 12 a, lying on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the cap axis X and facing the tamper-evident ring 16; the tamper-evident ring 16 has an upper face 18 a lying on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the cap axis X and facing the flange 12.

Preferably, the jumpers 18 join the lower face 12 a of the flange 12 and the upper face 18 a of the tamper-evident ring 16.

Preferably, moreover, the closure 1 comprises a strap 20 joining the tamper-evident ring 16 to the cap 2, which remains intact even when the cap 2 is unscrewed from the spout.

Preferably, the strap 20 protrudes at one end from an outer side surface 16 b of the tamper-evident ring 16 and at the other end from an outer side surface 12 b of the flange 12.

In a first configuration, the cap is screwed to the spout, the jumpers are intact, the tamper-evident ring is constrained to the spout, for example in a ring seat provided on said spout, and the strap is intact.

In a second configuration, which is achieved after the first opening of the closure, the cap is unscrewed from the spout and the jumpers are broken, while the tamper-evident ring is constrained to the spout and the strap is intact; the cap is thus fastened to the tamper-evident ring.

In a third configuration, which is reached from the second configuration after pulling the cap and tearing it from the tamper-evident ring through a pulling action tending to move it away from the tamper-evident ring, the tamper-evident ring is constrained to the spout while the strap is broken; the cap is thus no longer fastened to the tamper-evident ring and constitutes a separate element.

In a fourth configuration, which is reached from

-   -   the second configuration or the third configuration after         screwing the cap back onto the spout, the cap is screwed to the         spout and the jumpers are broken, thus making it obvious that         the closure has been tampered with or has already been opened.

Preferably, the strap 20 is configured, for example dimensionally or by means of notches or striations, to break, in the third configuration mentioned above, in the vicinity of the cap 2, so that the cap 2 does not have any pieces or offshoots that may interfere with forming the modular structure (the remaining section therefore remains joined to the tamper-evident ring).

Preferably, the cap 2 comprises at least one striker 22 a, 22 b, arranged for example at the connection region with the cap flange 12, to form or stabilize the connection of the cap 2 to other similar caps to form the modular structure discussed hereinafter.

Preferably, said at least one striker 22 a, 22 b comprises an upper portion 22 a′, 22 b′, located axially above the flange 12, projecting radially outwards from the cap wall 4.

Preferably, said at least one striker 22 a, 22 b comprises a lower portion 22 a″, 22 b″ projecting axially below the flange 12, i.e., projecting axially from the lower face 12 a of the flange 12.

Preferably, said at least one striker 22 a, 22 b comprises both the upper portion 22 a′, 22 b′ and the lower portion 22 a″, 22 b″, which are axially aligned.

For example, the cap 2 provides a pair of strikers 22 a, 22 b, arranged diametrically opposite one another.

Preferably, said strikers have a respective flat, striker face 24 a, 24 b facing radially outwards; for example, each striker 22 a, 22 b has an overall parallelepiped shape, the striker face 24 a, 24 b of which constitutes the face turned radially outwards.

The cap 2 further comprises a head 30 supported by the cap wall 4 and the cap base 8, having a flattened shape, i.e., prevailing extension in an imaginary plane parallel to the cap axis X; preferably, said imaginary plane contains the cap axis X.

The head 30 is perimetrically delimited by a peripheral edge, lying an imaginary plane parallel to the cap axis X, which preferably has a polygonal shape, for example quadrangular, square, or rectangular, or octagonal and the like, for example with rounded corners.

In particular, the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch 32 a and a right stretch 32 b, arranged on opposite sides relative to the cap axis X, for example, rectilinear and parallel to the cap axis X.

The head 30 comprises at least one left tooth 34 a, 36 a, protruding radially outwards from the left stretch 32 a, and at least two right teeth 38 b, 40 b, 42 b, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch 32 b, aligned, for example, by taking into account the midline, along a rectilinear tooth axis K that is parallel to the cap axis X. The two right teeth 38 b, 40 b, 42 b are spaced axially so as to form a right housing 44 b, 46 b between each other.

The left tooth 34 a, 36 a of a first cap 2 is configured to be insertable with interference into the right housing 44 b, 46 b of a second cap 2′, identical to the first cap 2, so as to form a first joint 50 or horizontal joint, to engage multiple caps 2, 2′ with each other.

Furthermore, preferably, said first joint 50 is labile in rotation relative to a joint rotation axis Z passing through said right housing 44 b, 46 b, said joint rotation axis Z being parallel to and spaced apart from the cap axis X, so that the first cap 2, engaged with the second cap 2′, is rotatable relative thereto.

Thus, by means of the horizontal joint 50, the heads 30 may be in a first relative arrangement wherein they are arranged in a single imaginary plane (180° horizontal joint), or they may be in a second related arrangement wherein they are arranged in orthogonal imaginary planes (90° horizontal joint).

Preferably, the head 30 comprises two left teeth 34 a, 36 a protruding from the left stretch 32 a and three right teeth 38 b, 40 b, 42 b, protruding from the right stretch 32 b, aligned along the tooth axis K. The two left teeth 34 a, 36 a are axially spaced so as to form a left housing 43 a between each other; the three right teeth 38 b, 40 b, 42 b are axially spaced apart so as to form two right housings 44 b, 46 b between each other. The two left teeth 34 a, 36 a of a first cap 2 are insertable with interference in the two respective right housings 44 b, 46 b of a second cap 2′, identical to the first cap 2; at the same time the middle tooth 40 b of the three right teeth 38 b, 40 b, 42 b of the second cap 2′ is insertable with interference in the left housing 43 a of the first cap 2.

Preferably, said teeth 34 a, 36 a, 38 b, 40 b, 42 b have a parallelepiped or cube shape with flat faces (for example, FIG. 1 ); according to a variant embodiment, said teeth 34 a, 36 a, 38 b, 40 b, 42 b have a rounded shape to facilitate the relative rotation between the caps (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 ).

According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, the peripheral edge of the head 30 comprises an upper section 32 c, arranged axially opposite the base cap 8, comprising at least one upper housing 48′, 48″ for accommodating at least a portion of the lower end 10 of a second cap 2′ identical to the first cap 2.

Preferably, the upper section 32 c comprises two radially spaced upper housings 48′, 48″, which are symmetrical relative to the cap axis X. Each upper housing 48′, 48″ has a radial width L so that a portion of the lower end 10 of the second cap 2′ having the same thickness may be forcibly applied.

In particular, at said strikers 22 a, 22 b of the cap 2, a radial thickness T of the cap 2, defined as a distance between the striker face 24 a, 24 b and an inner side surface 4 a of the cap wall 4, is equal to or slightly greater than the radial width L of the upper housing 48′, 48″, so that a portion of the cap 2 made up of a portion of the lower end 10 of the cap wall 4 and preferably a striker 24 a, 24 b, is insertable with interference into the respective upper housing 48′, 48″, so as to form a second joint 60 or vertical joint, for engaging several caps 2, 2′ superimposing each other axially.

The head 30 further comprises a viewing region 70, preferably double-sided, contained within the peripheral edge, preferably coplanar with said peripheral edge. The viewing region 70 carries symbols, such as letters and/or drawings, and/or colors, which are combined in the modular structure into different compositions.

Preferably, the imaginary plane containing the peripheral edge of the head 30 crosses said strikers 22 a, 22 b, so that said strikers 22 a, 22 b also serve as references for the correct relative angular positioning of superimposed caps forming a vertical joint 60.

A modular structure 100 comprises a plurality of identical caps 2, which are horizontally and/or vertically engaged with each other.

For example, the caps 2′ of a first group of caps 2′ are horizontally side-by-side and engaged with each other by means of the 180° horizontal joint 50; the caps 2′ of said first group of caps 2′ are thus arranged so that the heads 30 are coplanar and the cap axes X are side-by-side and parallel.

For example, the caps 2″ of a second group of caps 2″ are vertically superimposed and engaged with each other via the vertical joint 60; the caps 2″ of said second group of caps 2″ are thus arranged so that the heads 30 are coplanar and the cap axes X are coaxial.

For example, the caps 2′″ of a third group of caps 2′″ are horizontally side-by-side and engaged with each other via the 90° horizontal joint 50; the caps 2′″ of said third group of caps 2′″ are thus arranged so that the heads 30 are on orthogonal planes and the cap axes X are side-by-side and parallel.

According to a variant embodiment of the invention, the upper edge of the peripheral edge contains a single upper housing for forming the vertical attachment. In this embodiment, the upper housing has a width equal to the diametrical dimension of the outer side surface of the cap wall at the lower end thereof or equal to the distance between the striking faces of the strikers.

The closure described above achieves the aforementioned object, as it allows for a cap to be obtained, which, in combination with other identical caps, may be used as a toy for the construction of a three-dimensional modular structure, characterized by a varied composition of letters, figures, and colors.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy current needs, could make modifications to the closure described above, said modifications all being contained within the scope of protection as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cap for a spout of a flexible thin-walled packaging, comprising: a ring-shaped cap wall with a central cap axis (X), which extends between a closed upper end and an open lower end for insertion onto the spout; a flattened head supported by the ring-shaped cap wall, comprising a viewing region enclosed in a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch and a right stretch, the left and right stretches being arranged on opposite parts of the central cap axis (X); wherein the flattened head comprises at least one left tooth, protruding radially outwards from the left stretch, and at least two right teeth, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch and aligned along a rectilinear tooth axis (K) parallel to the central cap axis (X), the at least two right teeth being axially spaced apart to form a right housing between each other; the at least one left tooth being suitable for being inserted with interference in the right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure.
 2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first joint is labile in rotation relative to a joint rotation axis (Z) passing through said right housing, the joint rotation axis (Z) being parallel to and spaced apart from the central cap axis (X).
 3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the flattened head comprises two left teeth and three right teeth aligned along the rectilinear tooth axis (K), wherein the two left teeth are axially spaced apart to form a left housing between each other and the three right teeth are axially spaced apart to form two right housings between each other, and wherein the two left teeth are suitable for being respectively inserted with interference into the two right housings, and a middle tooth of the three right teeth is suitable for being inserted with interference into the left housing.
 4. The cap of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of the flattened head comprises an upper stretch comprising at least one upper housing and wherein a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall is suitable for being inserted with interference into the at least one upper housing to form a second joint.
 5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the upper stretch comprises two upper housings, radially spaced, which are symmetrical relative to the central cap axis (X), wherein each upper housing of the two upper housings has a radial width (L) suitable for accommodating with interference a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall.
 6. The cap of claim 5, wherein the cap further comprises at least one striker placed at the open lower end, wherein the at least one striker comprises a flat striker face facing radially outwards and wherein the cap has a radial thickness (T) defined as a distance between the flat striker face and an inner side surface of the ring-shaped cap wall, the at least one striker being insertable in the at least one upper housing and said radial thickness (T) being suitable for forming a coupling with interference with the at least one upper housing.
 7. The cap of claim 6, wherein the cap comprises two strikers arranged diametrically opposite one another.
 8. The cap of claim 6, wherein said at least one striker comprises an upper portion protruding radially outwards from the ring-shaped cap wall.
 9. The cap of claim 6, wherein said at least one striker comprises a lower portion.
 10. The cap of claim 8, wherein said at least one striker comprises a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion is axially aligned with the lower portion.
 11. The cap of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge is contained on an imaginary plane parallel to the central cap axis (X) or containing the central cap axis (X).
 12. The cap of claim 1, wherein the viewing region is contained on an imaginary plane parallel to the central cap axis (X) or containing the central cap axis (X).
 13. The cap of claim 1, wherein the viewing region has two opposing faces.
 14. The cap of claim 11, wherein the peripheral edge of the flattened head comprises an upper stretch comprising at least one upper housing and wherein a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall is suitable for being inserted with interference into the at least one upper housing to form a second joint, wherein the cap further comprises at least one striker placed at the open lower end, wherein the at least one striker comprises a flat striker face facing radially outwards and wherein the cap has a radial thickness (T) defined as a distance between the flat striker face and an inner side surface of the ring-shaped cap wall, the at least one striker being insertable in the at least one upper housing and said radial thickness (T) being suitable for forming a coupling with interference with the at least one upper housing, and wherein the imaginary plane of the peripheral edge crosses the at least one striker to make an angular reference.
 15. The cap of claim 1, further comprising a cap flange, radially protruding outwards from the ring-shaped cap wall at the open lower end.
 16. A closure for a spout of a flexible thin-walled packaging, comprising: a cap comprising a ring-shaped cap wall with a central cap axis (X), which extends between a closed upper end and an open lower end for insertion onto the spout; a flattened head supported by the ring-shaped cap wall, comprising a viewing region enclosed in a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch and a right stretch, the left and right stretches being arranged on opposite parts of the central cap axis (X); wherein the flattened head comprises at least one left tooth protruding radially outwards from the left stretch, and at least two right teeth, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch and aligned along a rectilinear tooth axis (K) parallel to the central cap axis (X), the at least two right teeth being axially spaced apart to form a right housing between each other; the at least one left tooth being suitable for being inserted with interference in the right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure; a tamper-evident seal for highlighting a first opening of the closure, comprising a tamper-evident ring, suitable for being constrained to the spout, and a plurality of breakable jumpers that join the cap to the tamper-evident ring, suitable for breaking by unscrewing the cap from the spout.
 17. The closure of claim 16, wherein the cap further comprises a cap flange radially protruding outwards from the ring-shaped cap wall at the open lower end, wherein the cap flange has a lower face lying on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the central cap axis (X) and facing towards the tamper-evident ring; the tamper-evident ring has an upper face lying on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the central cap axis (X) and facing the cap flange; and the breakable jumpers join the lower face of the cap flange and the upper face of the tamper-evident ringer.
 18. The closure of claim 16, comprising a strap joining the tamper-evident ring to the cap, which remains intact when the cap is unscrewed from the spout.
 19. The closure of claim 18, wherein the strap protrudes at one end from an outer side surface of the tamper-evident ring and at the other end from an outer side surface of the cap flange.
 20. The closure of claim 19, wherein the strap is configured to break under a pulling action tending to move the strap away from the tamper-evident ring, near the cap.
 21. A modular structure comprising: a plurality of caps, each cap of the plurality of caps comprising a ring-shaped cap wall with a central cap axis (X), which extends between a closed upper end and an open lower end for insertion onto the spout; a flattened head supported by the ring-shaped cap wall, comprising a viewing region enclosed in a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch and a right stretch, the left and right stretches being arranged on opposite parts of the central cap axis (X); wherein the flattened head comprises at least one left tooth-protruding radially outwards from the left stretch, and at least two right teeth, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch and aligned along a rectilinear tooth axis (K) parallel to the central cap axis (X), the at least two right teeth being axially spaced apart to form a right housing between each other; the at least one left tooth being suitable for being inserted with interference in the right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure, said caps being coupled to one another.
 22. The modular structure of claim 21, wherein said plurality of caps comprises: a first group of caps arranged horizontally side-by-side and coupled to each other by the first joint so that flattened heads are coplanar and central cap axes (X) are arranged side-by-side and parallel.
 23. The modular structure of claim 21, wherein the peripheral edge of the flattened head comprises an upper stretch comprising at least one upper housing and wherein a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall is suitable for being inserted with interference into the at least one upper housing to form a second joint, and wherein said plurality of caps comprises: a second group of caps vertically superimposed and coupled to one another by the second joint, so that flattened heads are coplanar, and central cap axes (X) are coaxial.
 24. The modular structure of claim 21, wherein the first joint is labile in rotation relative to a joint rotation axis (Z) passing through said right housing, the joint rotation axis (Z) being parallel to and spaced apart from the central cap axis (X), and wherein said plurality of caps comprises: a third group of caps arranged horizontally side-by-side and coupled to one another by the first joint so that flattened heads are on orthogonal planes and central cap axes (X) are arranged side-by-side and parallel. 